For a slow-paced training shoe, this isn’t really a problem, but you might want to consider building a rotation of shoes if this were your only pair. Where more minimal shoes allow you to transfer energy from your footstrike into the next lift-off, the Max Cushioning Elite absorbs all of that energy.

Not being able to put my own insoles into my daily trainer would usually be an instant dealbreaker for me. The grip is nothing to write home about There’s not too much to say about the 78.8HA (average 81.1HA) outsole on the Skechers Max Cushioning Elite. The outsole doesn’t cover much of the shoe and at 3.2mm is quite thin. This is the first pair of Skechers I’ve worn since my mom bought me a pair too big when I was 9 and my feet were growing a mile a minute. It was kind of nostalgic to see that they still put a little sample of the insole on a key-ring attached to the lacing of the shoe.If you’re not fussed about appearances, the shoe does a really good job, especially for the super-low price point. The bulky design puts function over form, which is kind of Skechers; brand, but you can feel it when running. The Max Cushioning midsole is…max cushioning Aside from a very noughties marketing ploy and being a little more wasteful than I’d like to see in the twenties, the insole really doesn’t impress me. It felt a little too roomy for me, and my foot slipped around a bit but I’m sure runners with wider feet will feel comfortable in these. The square shape of the upper makes it a relatively roomy fit. There’s plenty of space in the toe box and throughout the shoe.

The Skechers Max Cushioning Elite is for newbie runners who are looking to care for their joints and their shins. With tonnes of padding underfoot, there’s less to worry about from the constant impact of the road. Who should NOT buy the Max Cushioning Elite